Railway switch-operating and signaling system.



PATBNTED JUNE 11, 1907.

A. WILSON. RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING AND SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 856,324. PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907.

A. G. WILSON.

RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING AND SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Tn: NORRIS psrsns co. WAsI-HNGION. D. c.

mvrrnn srarns PATENT orrion.

ASBURY G. IVILSON, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR' TO THE UNION SWITCH AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY SWITCH-OPERATING AND SIGNALING SYSTEM- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1907.

Application filed September 6. 1905. Serial No. 277,279.

To (LN xvii/077v it may concern:

Be it known that I, AsBUnY G. WILsoN. a citizen of the United States, residing at Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Controlling the Passage of Cars or Vehicles Along a Railway, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to that class of apparatus controlling the passage of cars or vehicles along a railway, comprising an electric motor.

The present invention is primarily intended for use in connection with what is termed in the art all electric interlocking plants that is, plants wherein the switch or signal operating apparatus are controlled by levers comprised in what is commonly known as an interlocking machine generally arranged within a cabin or tower located at a distance from the switches or signals. As is well known, each of these levers is usually provided with indicating mechanism comprising a latch or lock and electro-magnetic means, which indicating mechanism, after a preliminary movement of the lever, locks it against final movement until after a complete operation by the apparatus controlled by the lever. The movements of the lever and the operation of the indicating mechanism at the proper time are well understood in the art.

An object of the present invention is to utilize the source of current supply for the motor of the apparatus for the indicating mechanism, but to change it in one of its characteristics so that it will have a different magnetic effect. The electro-magnetic device of the indicating mechanism is constructed to respond to release the lever only to the changed or altered current. Thus false indications due to crossed wires and other causes are guarded against.

My invention, therefore, may be said to comprise an apparatus for moving a part or appliance for controlling the passage of cars or vehicles along a railway, including an electric motor, a mechanism for indicating that the apparatus has operated, comprising an electro-magnetic device, a controller for the supply of current to the motor, and means for changing the character of the current from the source of supply to have it operate the electro-magnetic device to release the lever.

I will now describe an apparatus embodying my invention and then point out the novel features in claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatical View of a system or apparatus embodying my invention showing it applied to a switch operating and indicating mechanism. In this view the switch is shown in one of the positions it assumes prior to a preliminary movement of its controlling lever. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, but showing the lever as having reached the limit of its preliminary movement, and in locked position, and the switch about to be moved over to its other position. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 showing the parts in the position they assume after the indication mechanism has released the lever and the switch has been moved to a position the reverse to that shown in the preceding figures. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic detail view of a por tion of Fig. 3, showing the lever as having been moved to the limit of its final movement and the circuits to both the motor and indicating mechanism opened. Fig. 5 is an enlarged central section of the means employed for altering the character of the current so as to effect the operation of the indicating mechanism.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, of said drawings A, designates a portion of a railway track, and B the switch points which may be 90 of any ordinary or usual construction or arrangement, the said switch points being connected together, as usual by means of the bridle-rods a and b, respectively, of which the former has secured to it the look rod a1 and the latter the usual connecting rod b1, which leads out to and connects with the switch operating mechanism and by means of which the switch points are moved from one position to the other.

I have illustrated in the drawings an arbitrarily selected switch operating mechanism for moving the switch rails, which, as shown, comprises a reversible motor 2, to the arma ture of which is connected one member 3, of an electric clutch. The opposite member 4 of said clutch is mounted upon a separate shaft 5, the latter being provided with a threaded portion 6, which passes through and engages the threads of a threaded opening in a head 7, arranged on a slide bar 8,so that upon rotation of said shaft the slide bar 8 will be moved in one direction or the other according to. the direction of rotation of the motor. The slide bar 8 has secured to it a series of projections or rollers, shown here as three in number and designated, respec tively, 9, 10 and 11, the roller 10, being adapted to alternately engage the jaws of a lever 12 as the slide bar is moved back and forth, as previously described, and, through an arm 13, which is generally made integral with the escapement lever and which connects with the end of the switch rod b1, moves the switch rails from one position to the other. 4

The rollers 9 and 11 as they move back and forth with the slide bar effect the movement of circuit makers and breakers to close certain circuits and open others which will be described more fully and in detail hereinafter.

Between the switch operating and the indicating mechanisms is suitably interposed a current changing device or apparatus for altering a characteristic or changing the nature of the primary source of current supply so as to have a proper magnetic effect upon the indicating mechanism, to have the latter operate to release the lever and so permit it to be moved to'its final position. The device or apparatus for accomplishing this end is here shown as a liquid interrupter l which may be of any of the ordinary types in common use. The interrupter may comprise a suitable vessel for holding an appropriate acid solution into which two electrodes B1 and C1, are placed, of which the former may be a lead plate, and the latter a frangible tube, such as glass, whose lower end is preferably, but not necessarily, tapered or coned. Into the hollow tapered end of this tube is inserted a plug b2, which is also preferably made of glass, and is provided with a central bore for receiving one end of a platinum wire p, which is connected-in the usual manner to a lead rod'd, located within the tube C1, the other end of said rod being connected to a wire 55,

which is included in the circuit leading to the indication mechanism, as will appear more clearly in a description of the circuits controlling such mechanism. The current,when

the apparatus is in the proper position to cause it to pass through the interrupter, affects the liquid so as to create a multiplicity of bubbles which are broken in rapid succession, thereby promoting decided interrup tions in the flow of electric current, due in part to the gases which form over and around the platinum point p in the liquid. This interrupted current, which may also be termed an intermittent or pulsatory current, is supplied to the electro-magnetic device embodied in, and employed for controlling, the indicating mechanism, causing it to operate to release the lever so that it may be moved to its further or final position.

The circuit makers and breakers referred to preferably comprise pivotal members 14 and 15, respectively, which have angular bearing surfaces adapted to rest on the rollers or studs 9 and 11 and so disposed with respect to said rollers as to effect a rocking or reciprocal movement of the pivotal members as the slide 8 is moved back and forth, thus moving appropriate contact pieces 16, 17 secured to, or forming part of the pivotal members 1 1, 15, into and out of engagement with contacts 16-a, 16.b and 17.a, 17b, respectively, the two former being included in the switch operating circuit, and the two latter being included in the indicating circuit.

The controlling lever designated 18, is suitably mounted on a shaft 19, forming one of a group of similar levers comprised. in an interlocking machine. The shaft is provided at one end with a handle 20, by which it may conveniently be rotated in either direction, and at its other end it is provided with a quadrant 21, the latter having a recess 22 therein, adapted to receive one of two laterally extended fingers 23, 24., disposed at or near the end of a rod 25 to which they are secured.

The other end of the rod 25, has secured to it a yoke 26 which connects with an annulus or ring 27, composed of copper or suitable non-magnetic material, which is adapted to move on the center one of three legs 28, 29, 30, respectively, projecting from and forming part of the body portion of the core of an electro-magnetic or translating device M. The outer legs 28 and 30, are wound, with coils which traversed by an interrupted or intermittent current from the interrupter previously described promotes, or effects a rapid change in the magnetic lines of force causing them to pass between the center leg 29, and the two outer legs 28, 30, thereby inducing a current in the annulus or ring which acts in opposition to the magnetic lines of force passing through the center leg 29, resulting in repelling or lifting the annulus or ring so as to raise the rod 25, and with it the fingers 23, 24, until the finger 23 is clear of the recess 22, thus releasing the quadrant and permitting the controlling lever to be moved to its final position. While the rod is in the elevated position just described, the finger 24 on the rod 25 will be brought close up to the underside of the quadrant 21, as shown clearly in Fig. 3, so asto be n the path of travel of a teat or projection 22a, on the quadrant 21, with which it is adapted to engage in the event of the lever be ng moved in the wrong direction by the operator, thus preventing a movement thereof in the wrong direction and thereby avoiding all possible chance of confusion in the manipulation of the interlocking machine. This is well understood in the art.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the electro-magnetic device M is operable to raise the finger 23 (and thus release the lock on the lever) only by a series of impulses. One impulse from any cause, might raise the ring to a position that the lever could be moved, but this is a remote possibility.

The shaft 19, has fixed upon it an arm or finger 19a, which, when the controlling lever is moved to occupy certain of its posi tions, will engage and move a switch S, whereby the circuits are arranged to energize the field of and give rotation to the mo tor for moving the switch rails in one direction and to re-arrange the circuits for effecting reverse rotation of the switch motor to move the switch rails back in an opposite direction. The switch S, is here shown as comprising two metallic contact strips 8, s1, respectively, secured to an inverted U-shaped member s2, preferably composed of insulating material, between the vertical members of which the arm or finger 19-a is adapted to move during the operation of the lever 18.

I will now describe the several circuits which control the operation of the mechanisms referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, which show the parts in the various positions they occupy before and after the,

movement of the switch points.

As will be observed in Fig. 1, the arm or finger 19a occupies a position to the extreme left and the switch S is in a similar position, having been moved there by the operation of the lever 18. In this position circuits are all open. A movement of the lever in the direction of the arrow, however, will cause the arm or finger to engage one of the vertical extensions of the U-shaped insulated members 2, moving the latter to the right and bringing the contact strips s, s1 into engagement with appropriate contacts 0, c-1 and c2, c3, and also effecting the engagement of the arm or finger 19a with a contact c4, the latter being connected to the contact c-3, by a conductor or wire c5. The current flowing from any convenient source of supply such as a battery X, will pass along the wire 31, through the arm 19a, contact c4, conductor c5, to contact -3, thence through contact strip s1, and contact c2 along wires 32, 33, 34, to movable contact 16, passing along wires 35, 36, 37, to and through the field 38, of the motor 2, thence by wires 39, 40, to brush 41 of said motor and through opposite brush 42, whence it passes through wire 43, to brush 44, of the clutch member 4, to opposite brush 45, thence along wires 46, 47, 48, 49,

thus formed energizes the motor and electric clutch thereby effecting, through the screw 6, the operation of the slide bar 3 and consequent movement of the switch points. When this movement has been completed, the switch points will have been moved to assume the position shown in Fig. 3, and the contact plates 16 and 17 will be moved away from the contacts 16?) and 17(L, onto the contacts 16a and 17b, changing the circuit so as to effect the operation of the indicating mechanism and release the lever 18. From the battery X, this circuit may be traced as follows: along wire 31, to arm or finger 19a thence to contact c4, along conductor c through contact strip s1, along wires 32, 33, 34, to contact plate 16, of movable contact 14, thence through wires 53, 54, 55, to one electrode of, and through, the interrupter I, to opposite electrode thereof, thence through wires 56, 57, 58, through the winding of the indicating mechanism and finally back to battery by wires 59, 52. The circuit thus formed promotes an intermittent or pulsatory current in the interrupter which is supplied. the electro-magnetic device M, as previously described, and causes the annulus or ring 26 on the center leg 29 to rise thereby lifting the rod. and its attached fingers 23, 24, so as to release the quadrant and permit of the lever being moved to its final position shown in Fig. 4. This latter movement shifts the switch S away from the contactsc, c 1, c-2, c-3 and so cuts out the circuits to both the switch operating and indicating mechanisms.

When now it is desired to move the switch points back again to their former position, the lever 18, is moved to the dotted position shown in Fig. 4, which in effect is an opposite preliminary movement to that previously described, which will move the switch S, to bring the contact strips 8, s1 again into engagement with the contacts 0, c1, c2, c3, when the current will pass from the battery X, along wire 31, arm or finger 19-a, to a contact 0- 6, thence through a conductor c7 to contact c1, through contact strip 8, contact 0, thence by wires 31a, 32a, 33a, 34a, to contact plate 17, of the movable contact 15, thence through wires 35a, 36a, 37(t, to and through field 38a of the motor 2, and through wires 39a, 40, to brush 41, thence to opposite brush 42, whence it passes by Wire 43, to brush 44 of the electric clutch member 4, through the opposite member 3, thence through brush 45, and finally by wires 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 and 52, back to battery. Obviously, when the switch has fully completed its return movement and the arm of finger 19-a is in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4, the current will be taken off the motor and transferred to the indication mechanism and the circuit may be traced as follows: From the battery X, along wire 31, through arm or finger 19a, contact c6, conductor c7, contacts c1, c, thence through wires 31a, 32a, 38c, 34-a, to and through movable contact plate 17, contact 17a, thence through wires 18a, 54, 55, through the interrupter I, and indication mechanism, as previously described, back to battery.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. An apparatus for moving a part or appliance for controlling the passage of cars or vehicles along a railway which includes an electric motor, a lever, a mechanism for indicating that the apparatus has operated, comprising an electro-magnetic device which is not responsive to the current to the motor to release the lever, a source of current supply common to both the motor and indicating mechanisms, and an interrupter for changing the character of the current to have it operate the electro-magnetic device.

2. An apparatus for moving a part or appliance for controlling the passage of cars or vehicles along a railway which includes an electric motor, a lever, a mechanism for indicating that the apparatus has operated,

vehicles along a railway which includes an electric motor, a lever, a mechanism for indicating that the apparatus has operated, comprising an electro-magnetic device which is not responsive to the current to the motor to release the lever, a liquid interrupter in circuit with both the motor and electromagnetic device for changing the character of the current to have it operate the electromagnetic device, a source of current supply.

common to both the motor and electro-magnetic device, and a controller operated by the lever for controlling the supply of current.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribed witnesses.

ASBURY I G. WILSON. l/Vitnesses:

M. D. HANLON, J. S. HoBsoN. 

